1994–1998 De Tomaso Guarà Barchetta Specs & Performance

The Guarà Barchetta was De Tomaso at its most unconventional. Instead of dressing the company's lightweight sports-car idea in a conventional roof, the Barchetta left the cockpit exposed, giving its angular body a distinctly competition-inspired appearance. Behind the occupants sat BMW's 4.0-liter V8, an unusual choice for De Tomaso and a sign that the company was moving beyond the Ford-powered formula that had defined much of its earlier history.

For 1994–1998, the open two-seater combined that compact, low-slung design with 283 hp and rear-wheel drive. A six-speed manual kept the experience deliberately mechanical, while double-wishbone suspension at both ends reflected the car's focus on handling rather than grand-touring comfort. Production was extremely limited, adding to the Barchetta's appeal today. It feels less like a conventional luxury convertible and more like a road-legal interpretation of a lightweight racing machine—an appropriately unconventional chapter in De Tomaso's story.